AAA Women's 6-Stage Road Relay, Sutton Park, Sutton Coldfield
Belles disappointed not to finish in AAA Relay
It wasn’t the Belles' day in more ways than one. In the week leading up to the Nationals, four of the proposed team of six had to pull out through injury, illness and personal reasons. Unlike the men, the women still don’t have sufficient depth to call on that many reserves at short notice, particularly given that it was only six days after our team win in the marathon. Even with the team manager doing her bit to ensure that a team would be there on the day, it just wasn’t meant to be. With Angela Walker confirming she definitely couldn’t race just days before, Catherine jumped in to fill the gap, thinking all would be ok. Unbelievably though, on the morning of the race, poor Anne Hegvold called to say that due to illness she wouldn’t be able to make it. This was not just an excuse to get out of racing, as Anne ended up in hospital for five days. Get well soon Angela and Anne!
An attempt to cajole the referee into allowing a non-declared runner to compete, even if it meant the team would be disqualified in the final results, went unheard, and so an incomplete team of five was put forward. Team plans went out of the window, with the focus being on ensuring everyone who took part got the best out of their race, with personal time challenges and battles being faced.
Leg 1
Rosie Powell has shown she is a talented young runner but admits to getting nervous pre-races. Without the pressure of a full team to finish, it was decided that today was the ideal day for Rosie to get some first leg experience. Because there was no option but to just get on with the race, and without the added stress of watching previous legs, Rosie took on the challenge and it worked in her favour. On a scorching hot day, and knowing that she would be up against some of the fastest runners of the day, including Helen Clitheroe (fastest overall leg of the day), Rosie ran her own race. Although disappointed to finish in 29th spot, her time of 18.54 was well within her expectations and set the team up well.
Leg 2
The ever reliable team captain Juliette Clark had been pencilled in for the final leg, but this now seemed a wasted opportunity, and she was promptly moved into leg 2 to enable her to get a fast run. Without the marathon in her legs this year Juliette was flying. She moved the team forward 8 places to 21st and clocked the Belles fastest leg of the day and 7th fastest on leg 2. Up front Coventry had moved up from 2nd to take the lead, whilst Shaftesbury moved up three places into 2nd and Wirral held on to 3rd spot.
Leg 3
Helen Alsop took on leg 3, as per the original plan. Always calm and focused, Helen headed off down the hill determined to pull back another couple of places. Despite battling cramps she dug in and completed the 2.99 miles in 19.12 and moved the team into 19th place in the process. Coventry’s lead looked comfortable up front, with Shaftesbury digging in in 2nd, but Tipton now moving into 3rd spot.
Leg 4
Despite completing the London Marathon just six days before in a PB of 2.54, Louise Cooper jumped at the chance of being in the National team. Louise has had a fabulous winter season and is in top form at present. With tired legs Louise still managed a good 19.21 and brought the team back in 20th place. With her running talent and warm and friendly manner Louise is a huge asset to the team. No change in the top three positions up front, as Coventry started to extend its lead.
Leg 5
Having only decided on Friday that she’d need to race in order to complete the team, and still being way below fitness, Catherine Eastham wasn’t looking forward to this race. However, as team manager, she knew she could never ask her athletes to give their all if she wasn’t ever prepared to, and there probably won’t be any other chances for her to be in the National team ever again! When Saturday came and with it the knowledge that the Belles would be an incomplete team, she still chose to race (if running 21.41 can be classed as racing!) and dropped just one place to bring the team back in 21st place. Up front, Tipton had pulled in front of Shaftesbury, with Coventry still clear in 1st.
Leg 6
With no 6th leg runner, the Belles could only sit back and watch as Coventry came home 30 seconds clear of Tipton. Shaftesbury held on to 3rd, although Liverpool did their best to close the gap.
Had the Belles had a 6th runner, running about 19.00 pace we’d have come home in 18th place. With an 18.00 runner on the team, it would have been 16th. With this 18.00 minute runner on the team, and swapping yours truly for another 19.00 minute runner, we’d still only have been in 16th place.
Disappointing and disheartening, but there is still so much potential for the Belles for the future. Imagine a dream team of Birhan Dagne, Getenesh Tamirat and Catherine Berry, with support from 3 of our regular team contributors and medals will surely beckon?.
1 Coventry Godiva H 1:42:46; 2 Tipton H 1:43:13; 3 Shaftesbury B 1:45:51; dnf Belgrave H.
R.Powell (29) 18:54; J.Clarke (21) 17:44; H.Alsop (19) 19:12; L.Cooper (20) 19:21; C.Eastham (21) 21:41.
Restored from the club's earlier website, belgraveharriers.com, and published here as originally written.